EXCLUSIVE: Ultimate Air to launch at CVG

Aug. 6, 2013

Written by

Ultimate Air
at a glance

• Flights: Weekday round-trip, direct-flight service from Lunken Airport to Chicago (no Wednesday service), New York City region/Morristown, N.J. (no Wednesday service) and Charlotte, N.C. (no Friday service). • Round-trip costs: Chicago ($575), New York City region ($695), Charlotte ($595 if customer books ticket 10 or fewer days before scheduled departure; $449 if books flight more than 11 days in advance). All ticket prices include taxes, fees, parking, baggage, food and drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic). • Jets: The company has eight, 30-seat Dornier 328 jets. • Convenience: Passengers can arrive 15 minutes before scheduled departure time. Passengers are pre-screened by the Transportation Security Administration. • Concierge service: Customer service will arrange ground transportation in each city at the customer's request. In Chicago, Ultimate Air offers free shuttle service to a train station with direct access to downtown. • Book a flight: Call 1-800-437-3931 or go to www.ultimateairshuttle.com. Flights can be booked up to 30 minutes before departure time.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Ultimate Air Shuttle, popular among regional business travelers for its flights out of Lunken Airport, is expected to announce plans to launch operations at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Ultimate Air plans to launch round-trip service to the New York City region, a move that would complement the public charter’s service from Lunken to that area. As a charter service, Ultimate Air can offer up to four flights per week to one destination – and the airline plans four weekday flights to Morristown, N.J., near New York City.

CVG has called a press conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Ultimate Air will continue to offer 12 flights per week to the New York City region, Chicago and Charlotte, N.C., out of Lunken.

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber recruited the charter service to Lunken in July 2009 to address significant downsizing at CVG, mostly by dominant carrier Delta Air Lines. Many business travelers have found the shuttle service a convenient alternative to flying from CVG, with the parking lot, a waiting lounge and boarding area all within feet of each other.

CVG officials have been working to add service to fill some of the void left by hundreds of Delta flights that have been cut since 2005. New York City is among 10 destinations that CVG officials have been targeting for added service.

As The Enquirer first reported in February, Ultimate Air has been working toward a major expansion of flight operations. A subsidiary of Akron, Ohio-based Ultimate JetCharters, Ultimate Air last year formally asked that the federal government allow the company to provide more than four flights a week to a destination. Ultimate Air still is waiting for a decision from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

That could allow Ultimate Air to expand at CVG. It’s uncertain if Ultimate Air would remain committed long-term to Lunken. Airport Manager Fred Anderton said Tuesday he is not concerned about Ultimate Air leaving Lunken.

“It doesn’t change anything for Lunken,” Anderton said. “If this is a move to accommodate more business travelers, good for them. It’s certainly not a move to capture lower fees or provide more convenient service, because there’s no way CVG can provide that over Lunken.”

CVG spokesman Brian Gregg declined comment.

Public charter services have grown in popularity nationwide as commercial service has been reduced. Business travelers drive almost 85 percent of Ultimate Air’s passenger traffic. Fifth Third Bank and Cintas Corp. are Ultimate Air’s top business clients. DunnhumbyUSA and Ashland Oil also are among 75 regular customers. ⬛